Question

Several glass aquariums of various sizes are for sale at a pet shop. They are all shaped like rectangular prisms. A 15-gallon tank is 24 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches tall. Match the dimensions of the other tanks with the volume of water they can each hold.

A. Tank 1: 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 12 inches tall
B. Tank 2: 16 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 10 inches tall
C. Tank 3: 30 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches tall
D. Tank 4: 20 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 12 inches tall
1. 5 gallons
2. 10 gallons
3. 20 gallons
4. 30 gallons

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

• A - 4
• B - 1
• C - 3
• D - 2

Explanation:

The volume of a given tank is the product of its dimensions. The number of cubic inches in 1 gallon is 231, so dividing the volume by that number converts the volume to gallons. From there, you need to figure what is meant by "the volume of water each can hold."

Tank A holds (36 in)(18 in)(12 in)/(231 in^3/gal) ≈ 33.66 gal. We could describe it as a 30-gallon tank.

Tank C holds (30 in)(12 in)(12 in)/(231 in^3/gal) ≈ 18.70 gal. The nearest offered value is 20 gallons, but we know that tank will not hold 20 gallons.

Apparently we're to choose the nearest available answer, not one that actually makes any mathematical sense. Our choices for the matching are shown above.

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In the spreadsheet, the volumes are rounded to the nearest 5 gallons. If we were to go by volume the tank would actually hold, Tank C would be a 15-gallon tank.